Digital Technology in Appliances
Digital technology was invented by American engineers in the 1950s, and it was based on certain mathematical concepts that were developed by German mathematician Gottfried Leibniz. The work of Leibniz helped in the development of the American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII), which is now synonymous with digital technology. Digital technology has gained importance over the years, and it is now an indispensable part of many people’s lives. In the 1980s, digital technology started to impact the field of telecommunications, and within a decade, it transformed the way people communicated. Earlier, the telephone and television worked by transmitting analog signals. Later on, analog signals were replaced by digital signals, and fiber optics became the medium of choice for transmitting digital signals. This contributed to the development of digital satellite television as well as the cellular phone. By the year 2000, personal computers and the internet were making their presence felt. Email became the preferred mode of communication over traditional mail, and computers started to replace files, folders, and file cabinets, as digitally-stored data was proving to be a better option than heaps of paper. Soon, digital photography emerged on the scene, and it transformed the field of photography as well. Today, there are many objects and devices that make use of digital technology, and one of these is the digital clock, which displays time with the use of digits instead of hands. Credit cards and debit cards, which work by using digitally-stored value systems, are also being used by more and more people in everyday transactions. For controling temperatures in rooms, digital controllers are used to select the power and functions of air-conditioners. Also, digital audio-visual players such as DVD players have replaced video cassette players. In the kitchen, the microwave oven is used to heat food, and the digitally-controlled refrigerator maintains the humidity of fruits, vegetables, and meat, keeping them fresh for a longer period of time. Even washing machines are digitally operated nowadays, and dish washers have microchips in them. Most of these digital appliances come with a remote control, which is a digital appliance as well. In recent years, mobile phone technology has been developing at a rapid rate. A few years back, mobile phones were only used to make phone calls and send text messages. Now, people can send pictures and voice messages with their mobile phones, and they can even surf the internet if their phones are 3G-enabled. Besides these appliances, there are other digital appliances that make people’s lives easier, more comfortable, and more entertaining. Some of these digital appliances include digital calculators, digital speakers, digital voltmeters, compact discs, and digital thermometers. Digital appliances are evolving every year. Each year upgraded versions of digital appliances will be launched in the market. From mobile phones and laptops to televisions and mp3 players, digital appliances have touched every sphere of people’s lives. Digital technology has transformed the way people live, work, and communicate, and it will continue to improve quality of life in the future.
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